NASHVILLE -- A Tennessee legislative committee on Tuesday moved the state to the forefront of efforts by conservatives to reassert "state sovereignty" and rein in the federal government for usurping its constitutional authority.

Acting on a resolution overwhelmingly approved by the legislature in May, a specially appointed "Committee of Conference and Correspondence" voted to send letters to the other 49 state legislatures, inviting them to join Tennessee in a "working group ... to enumerate the abuses of authority by the federal government and to seek repeal of its assumption of powers" and mandates it has imposed on states.

Only one other state -- Alaska -- has adopted a similar "state sovereignty" resolution being pushed nationally by the "tea party" movement and other conservative groups and pundits.